Throughout
the reporting period, the Task Force met eight times to discuss
the action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 of the
Security Council and the outline of the study on women, peace
and security; substantive contributions by Task Force members;
as well as funding issues.

Other
meetings included briefings by the outgoing Head of the Office
of Gender Affairs in UNMIK, the Head of the Gender Unit in UNTAET
and Gender Adviser in Afghanistan. The participants discussed,
inter alia, the placement of the gender unit and lines of communications
within the Missions; practical aspects of gender mainstreaming
and coordination of gender issues; and the terms of reference
and the Office's role within the Missions.

On
31 October 2001, the first "anniversary" of the Security
Council resolution 1325, the Task Force hosted a panel discussion
at UN Headquarters with the participation of Mr. Brian Cowen,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ireland (President of the Security
Council); Mr. Kieran Prendergast, USG, DPA; Mr. Jean-Marie Guéhenno,
USG, DPKO; Mr. Jayantha Dhanapal, USG, DDA; Mr. Kenzo Oshima,
USG, OCHA; and Mr. Sergio Vieira de Mello, SRSG, UNTAET. The panel
was hosted by the Chair of the IANWGE, Angela King.

Following
the adoption of the resolution by the Security Council, the Task
Force decided to prepare a system wide action plan. Contributions
from all United Nations entities in their respective areas of
activity were received and reviewed by the Task Force for inclusion
in the Action Plan.

The
Plan was agreed to and finalized by all members and contains activities
and steps to be taken by the United Nations system in order to
implement the resolution. It covers all areas identified in the
resolution. The IANWGE will need to discuss how the plan will
be monitored.

Study
mandated by Security Council resolution 1325

The
Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on "Women, peace
and security" mandated the Secretary-General to carry out
a study on the impact of armed conflict on women and girls, the
role of women in peace-building and the gender dimensions of peace
processes and conflict resolution. The resolution also called
for a report by the Secretary-General to the Security Council
on the results of the study.

The
study is being prepared by two consultants, Ms. Dyan Mazurana
and Ms. Sandra Whitworth. Additional expertise has been provided
on specific issues. The study will be complemented by the UNIFEM
publication on 2002 Progress of the World's Women, which is expected
to be finalized in July. Another contribution will be a manual
of standard operating procedures on gender mainstreaming in multi-dimensional
peacekeeping operations which is currently being prepared by DPKO.
The study will be reviewed by a Review Group, a group of experts
comprised of academics and practitioners from war-affected countries.

Concrete
recommendations in the study will focus on improving the protection
of women and girls in conflict situations; increasing their participation
in peace processes; incorporating gender perspectives into peace
accords; and ensuring the integration of gender perspectives in
all areas of peace keeping operations, including in refugee situations
and in the full range of reconstruction and rehabilitation processes.

On
18 December 2001, a brainstorming session was organized to review
the proposed outline. It was attended by members of the Security
Council, Friends of 1325 (an informal group of Member States committed
to supporting the implementation of the resolution), the Commission
on the Status of Women, agencies, academics, and NGOs. The meeting
aimed at exchanging ideas and information, further developing
the framework for the Secretary-General's Study, filling in gaps
and giving feedback to the consultants.

Some
critical points were raised with regard to the preparation of
the study and the report to the Security Council:

It
will be important that the study be widely endorsed and that
as many Member States as possible will be engaged in the process.

The
study should focus on concrete and practical recommendations
and pinpoint "good practices" from different regions.
It should also involve different experts representing various
constituencies and geographical areas.

The
report to the Security Council should focus on the Security
Council's role with respect to the implementation of its resolution
1325 and should include a set of specific recommendations
to the Security Council on policy-making, institutional aspects
and monitoring mechanisms.

Timetable of the study

A
first draft was sent to the Task Force on 4 February 2002.
The Task Force members were asked to submit their comments
by 18 February 2002. We are most grateful to the many members
who took the time to submit their comments to consultants.

A
small group of experts - academics and practitioners - from
war-affected countries are being asked to serve as a Review
Group and readers of the study.

A
panel will take place during CSW, which will be open to a
broad range of participants. It is scheduled for 13 March
at lunchtime in Conference Room 2.

A
second draft of the study is to be circulated in mid-March.
Discussion of drafts of the study will be organized for the
Task Force in April and May to review and finalize the recommendations
of the study.

The
final study is expected to be issued by June/July.

The
report is to be finalized in July for submission to the Security
Council.

Related issues

In
2001, a constituency had been built in order to support the aims
of Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.
A group called "Friends of Women, Peace and Security"
(or "Friends of 1325") comprising representatives of
Member States was set up at the initiative of Canada, in order
to broaden the support among UN Member States for Security Council
resolution 1325.

International Women's Day

(Task Manager: DPI)

A
task force comprised of OSAGI/DAW, DPI, UNIFEM and IANWGE was involved
in selecting the theme of this year's celebration of International
Women's Day 2002 at UN Headquarters. DPI is organizing the event.
The theme will be "Afghan women today: realities and opportunities."
The President of the Security Council (Norway) and other high
level officials will address delegations, NGOs and representatives
of UN entities reiterating international commitments toward Afghan
women and girls and enhancing their role in reconstruction and
decision making. In a second part, Ms. Sima Wali (Afghan woman
delegate to the UN Talks in Bonn and the Brussels Summit for Democracy)
and UN officials will interact with the floor. The whole event
will be live webcast.